Why LeBron Can

[winwin]

by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
@kaj33
July 12, 2014

LeBron can never really go home to the Cleveland he once knew

In his essay in Sports Illustrated about his return to play for Cleveland, LeBron James announced,

[bballnoob1192]

lol this shit is getting way out of hand.

[navy]

Kareem....

Stahp.

[BallsOut]

Kareem :bowdown:

Ether - the shit that makes your soul burn slow.

[KBaller33]

Is it really that big of a deal? Does everybody have to over analyze his decision?
Lol man

[russwest0]

Kareem is so smart and above the media bullshit. I Love this man.

[WolfGang]

This is too much bruh. Lebron is with the Cavs...coo. A NBA player decided to play with another team. The shit happens all the time. Players that suck get traded and good players have choices.

[Spaulding]

Kareem wants attention it seems.

[russwest0]

Also yet another GOAT basketball mind having Durant as the best player on the planet.

Not that he needs validation after last season, it just makes ESPN even that much more of a comedy network when they try to sell LeBron as the best :oldlol:

[Rodmantheman]

lol different time and scenarios.

[russwest0]

This is too much bruh. Lebron is with the Cavs...coo. A NBA player decided to play with another team. The shit happens all the time. Players that suck get traded and good players have choices.

:facepalm :facepalm :facepalm Dude he's responding to the medias reaction to it, not the decision by itself

I wouldn't expect half of the weak minded folks on ISH to understand though

[navy]

There was nothing wrong with what he wrote, and I think everyone agrees with most of it.

That said, Kareem never stops talking. This just felt unnecessary and a chance to use allegorical connotations at first sight.

[Rodmantheman]

:facepalm :facepalm :facepalm Dude he's responding to the medias reaction to it, not the decision by itself

I wouldn't expect half of the weak minded folks on ISH to understand though

look who is talking:roll: :roll: :roll:

[navy]

:facepalm :facepalm :facepalm Dude he's responding to the medias reaction to it, not the decision by itself

I wouldn't expect half of the weak minded folks on ISH to understand though
You didnt even read it. That isnt what he responding to at all. :facepalm

[russwest0]

You didnt even read it. That isnt what he responding to at all. :facepalm

then why did he precisely single out the false genuinity of this "coming home" shit that the media is selling?

yet again, :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

put on your helmet, kid

[navy]

then why did he precisely singled out the false genuinity of this "coming home" shit that the media is selling?

yet again, :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

put on your helmet, kid
Stop being an idiot and actually read it instead of just looking at the title.

[LBJFTW]

Oh look, Kareem has spoken.

There you have it!

[RedBlackAttack]

I thought it was a pretty interesting read. :confusedshrug:

The point is a powerful one and Wolfe's novel is adaptable and analogous to exactly a situation such as this one. The relationship between the city/state and James will never be what it was five years ago, for good or bad. In a sports context, there was an innocence between that player/fan relationship in those first seven years.

James is more traveled now and certainly more worldly... more mature. I'd say the Cleveland sports fan has also changed, at least the diehards among us. I'm not even saying it is a bad thing. I think this has the chance to be a more realistic partnership with both sides understanding the stakes, the pitfalls, the challenges and the dangers.

It really is one of the most intriguing sports stories in a long, long time. There are layers to this thing that go a little deeper than just the surface. There's nothing wrong with exploring those layers.

[russwest0]

I thought it was a pretty interesting read. :confusedshrug:

The point is a powerful one and Wolfe's novel is adaptable and analogous to exactly a situation such as this one. The relationship between the city/state and James will never be what it was five years ago, for good or bad. In a sports context, there was an innocence between that player/fan relationship in those first seven years.

James is more traveled now and certainly more worldly... more mature. I'd say the Cleveland sports fan has also changed, at least the diehards among us. I'm not even saying it is a bad thing. I think this has the chance to be a more realistic partnership with both sides understanding the stakes, the pitfalls, the challenges and the dangers.

It really is one of the most intriguing sports stories in a long, long time. There are layers to this thing that go a little deeper than just the surface. There's nothing wrong with exploring those layers.

Fresh off of ethering Le2for5 for that "Mount Rushmore" shit, Kareem ethers LeChoken One again

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[houston]

shut up kareem

[LeBird]

If he hadn't spent the article indirectly praising himself for doing the 'right' thing and being 'sincere' it would come more as interesting than just a self-promotion tool.

[dreamwarrior]

I enjoy this man's articles but it sounds like he's trying to make something out of nothing. I don't think Lebron cares about Cleveland THAT much. It'd be different if the team was in Akron instead. If it was the Akron Cavs he would never have left. And the reason he waited to make the announcement was to give his teammates and coaches a heads up, something he didn't do when he left Cleveland.

[RedBlackAttack]

If he hadn't spent the article indirectly praising himself for doing the 'right' thing and being 'sincere' it would come more as interesting than just a self-promotion tool.
That's a fair point.

He does go out of his way to paint James as arrogant and self-centered, but seems to also not have a self aware bone in his body when it comes to the same critique of his own self-adulation.

Oh well... the mind of an uber-talented individual, I guess. They apparently don't need to do the kinds of self-examinations as the rest of us.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Jabar is one ugly POS.
he should be happy Wilt took it easy on him.
fukking fakkit.
dey scared now

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Fresh off of ethering Le2for5 for that "Mount Rushmore" shit, Kareem ethers LeChoken One again

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:
Fresh of smoking crack in your trailer you are now back to have sex with your sister twice a day:bowdown: :bowdown:

[russwest0]

If he hadn't spent the article indirectly praising himself for doing the 'right' thing and being 'sincere' it would come more as interesting than just a self-promotion tool.

he did that because you know had he not included that he would have gotten a bunch of lebronze stans attacking him for that and trying to call him a hypocrite and shit

[Artillery]

Kareem wants attention it seems.

Just another glorified Laker sidekick wanting attention. Kobe is the same way.

[Phantom84]

Meh, if Lebron somehow deliver a championship to Cleveland, no one in Cleveland will care about the decision. They will erect his statue in front of the stadium lol.

[GimmeThat]

Just another glorified Laker sidekick wanting attention. Kobe is the same way.


well, I don't know if Jabbar could ever be Dr. Buss's side-kick off the floor.

as much as people want to talk about Phil Jackson/Kobe 2 peating with the Lakers after Shaq left town.


there was a period of time, where being Dr. Buss was not a fun position to be at.

but again, the man is who he is, because of his ability to deal with situations like that.



there seems to be a good amount of intellectuals in the NBA by the way.

[dunksby]

There was nothing wrong with what he wrote, and I think everyone agrees with most of it.

That said, Kareem never stops talking. This just felt unnecessary and a chance to use allegorical connotations at first sight.
Look at him as a journalist who writes a basketball column who happens to be an NBA legend. I think he is channeling his inside journalist rather than speaking from the HOFer point of view.

[navy]

Look at him as a journalist who writes a basketball column who happens to be an NBA legend. I think he is channeling his inside journalist rather than speaking from the HOFer point of view.
Fair point, but I should mention Ive had this problem with Kareem long before the Decision. I honestly think he relishes attention and wonders why he doesn't receive it. Very smart intelligent man,probably one of the most reasoned NBA minds, but never misses the chance to act self important.

[ArbitraryWater]

Kareem has written so many garbage anti LBJ articles now... Pathetic.

I love him as player, his game, but this is cringe.

[JohnFreeman]

Stfu Kareem

[edrick]

KAJ compares leaving a sports team with an author that writes shit about people in his home town, then returns to people hating him. He compares wanting to go home to New York, with going home to Cleveland, a city that hasn't won anything in 50 years. Does KAJ even realize how much a big star means to smaller markets like Cleveland? He clearly does not. Lebron will help stimulate the local economy, help Cleveland have a winning team again, and he also gives the hope for a championship to be brought to Cleveland.

Obviously it won't be the exact same experience Lebron had before he left, but that applies to everything.

[GimmeThat]

Fair point, but I should mention Ive had this problem with Kareem long before the Decision. I honestly think he relishes attention and wonders why he doesn't receive it. Very smart intelligent man,probably one of the most reasoned NBA minds, but never misses the chance to act self important.


well, there's the knowledgable insecure people
there's those that aren't knowledgable

then there's those that shares his point of view and say
"well said"

probably why he doesn't receive it.



The Illumanity

[GimmeThat]

KAJ compares leaving a sports team with an author that writes shit about people in his home town, then returns to people hating him. He compares wanting to go home to New York, with going home to Cleveland, a city that hasn't won anything in 50 years. Does KAJ even realize how much a big star means to smaller markets like Cleveland? He clearly does not. Lebron will help stimulate the local economy, help Cleveland have a winning team again, and he also gives the hope for a championship to be brought to Cleveland.

Obviously it won't be the exact same experience Lebron had before he left, but that applies to everything.

you mean the most hyped big man coming out of college ever played for the Bucks?

[AintNoSunshine]

Lebron can tell the media he took a shiit in the morning and it will become the biggest news in sports. Dude literally demands the sports world's attention in everything he does.

[jzek]

any cliffs on that article?

[Spurs5Rings2014]

Kareem :bowdown:

Ether - the shit that makes your soul burn slow.

:oldlol:

[Trollsmasher]

terribly written:facepalm

[Mr. Jabbar]

kareem is a smart person, and every smart person knows "coming home" = bullshit

[Pointguard]

KAJ compares leaving a sports team with an author that writes shit about people in his home town, then returns to people hating him. He compares wanting to go home to New York, with going home to Cleveland, a city that hasn't won anything in 50 years. Does KAJ even realize how much a big star means to smaller markets like Cleveland? He clearly does not. Lebron will help stimulate the local economy, help Cleveland have a winning team again, and he also gives the hope for a championship to be brought to Cleveland.

Obviously it won't be the exact same experience Lebron had before he left, but that applies to everything.
Kind of depressing that he's turned to a hater. But Kareem was never even a social person much less a person who is going to understand feeling the love of his hometown.

[SpecialQue]

There was nothing wrong with what he wrote, and I think everyone agrees with most of it.

That said, Kareem never stops talking. This just felt unnecessary and a chance to use allegorical connotations at first sight.

Kareem is one of the most book-smart basketball players ever, and I think he relishes every opportunity to show it.

[tontoz]

I lol'd.

[QUOTE]To some skeptical residents, LeBron

[GimmeThat]

Kind of depressing that he's turned to a hater. But Kareem was never even a social person much less a person who is going to understand feeling the love of his hometown.


if you're not a social person. you're never going to the understand the feeling of love no matter where you go.

[D-Rose]

Goodness Kareem :facepalm

[sammichoffate]

This was pretty interesting to read, the novel comparison was pretty nice. Kareem's pretty spot on with everything he said, all the analogies about Lebron going back to an ex are cliche as **** already but sadly true. I don't see it as self-promotion or anything, he's just giving his point of view since he went through a similar situation while he was in Milwaukee. The point of the piece isn't to trash Lebron, he already states that Lebron's the best in the game. It's to point out all the bullshit that ESPN and other sports "journalists" try to force down everyones' throats about Lebron being selfless and shit.

[Dresta]

terribly written:facepalm
Nonsense. It is clearly very well written; despite what you may think of the content, Kareem most certainly writes with some flair, panache, and a good deal of insight.

Though it is not surprising that illiterate imbeciles such as yourself and Marlo (the most contemptible of all stans) STAN-FOOL would be incapable of recognising this.

[ProfessorMurder]

Kareem hasn't played in 25 years, and he still shut down Bran. :bowdown:

[Pointguard]

Nonsense. It is clearly very well written; despite what you may think of the content, Kareem most certainly writes with some flair, panache, and a good deal of insight.

Though it is not surprising that illiterate imbeciles such as yourself and Marlo (the most contemptible of all stans) STAN-FOOL would be incapable of recognising this.
Brutal but hilarious.

[Anfernee]

I think this is a very well written piece fueled by bitterness.

Kareem's premise is a straw man. He writes as if LeBron is coming home for things to be as they were, when LeBron's clearly stated reason for returning is to utilize how he's grown over the past 4 years to to improve and change things about his home that were lacking. Kareem is jealous of the attention, but more so of the power that LBJ is exerting.

[STATUTORY]

kareem obviously inspired by my post from yesterday


Lebron's letter in 2016

"Early 20th century American Novelist thomas wolfe once said "you can't go home again", well ni99as I guess i be proof"

dat reference

[zoom17]

kareem obviously inspired by my post from yesterday



dat reference

This guy:roll:

[winwin]

Nonsense. It is clearly very well written; despite what you may think of the content, Kareem most certainly writes with some flair, panache, and a good deal of insight.

Though it is not surprising that illiterate imbeciles such as yourself and Marlo (the most contemptible of all stans) STAN-FOOL would be incapable of recognising this.
:applause:


STATUTORY :oldlol:

:applause: